Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Chief Dr John Momis, has the Central Bougainville MP’s comments on the new Mining Laws.
Local MP, Jimmy Miringtoro claimed the autonomous government, was engaging foreign legal consultants without consulting landowners.
This week Mr Miringtoro questioned the engagement of foreign legal consultants to draft the mining law and accused the Autonomous Bougainville Government of working in isolation.
Panguna must not be reopened unless laws are made to protect resource owners, until mining related issues are resolved.
A press statement released by Chief Momis described these comments as foolish, ignorant and misleading. It wrongly attacked the President, for pushing BCL to re-open the Panguna Mine.
At the same time under international law, the National Government and the ABG cannot completely ignore BCL’s existing legal rights.
Claims that BCL will offload all its shares to the PNG Government engaging Tony Regan as a legal consultant are untrue.
President Momis explained Regan has done legal work for successive governments since 1981, and the ABG is entirely satisfied of him having no links with Rio Tinto.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=10xfpFXUVqM%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
